Bladder for footballs and the like



Nov. 24, 1936. A IF. HECK y 2,062,247

BLADDER' FOR FOOTBALLS AND THE LIKE l Filed April l5, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet v1 vINVENTOR A BERT F. HECK l ,mm YLMQeL,

ATTORNEYS Nov. 24, 1936.

BLADDER FOR FOOTBALLS AND THE LIKE Filed April 13, 1934 s sheets-sheet 2 FIGA A. F. HECK v 2,062,247v

Nov. 24,1936. A, F HECK 2,062,247

BLADDER FOR FOOTBALLS AND I'l-IEl LIKE Filed April 15, 19521 s sheets-sheet s lNvENToR ALBERT F. HECK ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 24, 1936` 'UNWED basketballs, play balls and thelike andthe process of manufacturing same.

the perforation therein in accordance invention. i Figure ,'7 is a section of theV bladderl andthe .ith y Heretofore difficulty has been encountered in applying to a rubber bladder .the bladderinflation valve and also securing to` the sections of a rubber bladder and over the seams thereof a rubber reinforcing tape to prevent rupture in the normal operation of the same. This invention is not Figure 6 illustrates the bladder with. the body of y,the bladder linflation valve inserted into the, per.- Vf oration and the annular rubber attaching flange thereof securedrto the perforated section around bladder inflation Ival've' taken on'fthe line" 1 1 of Figuref. Y

Y Figure' -a illustrates themadder paruauy in f flated to round out the seam,zand,mounte d in a' suitable rotating holder, to facilitate andr acceler# ate the application by suitable pressure to theV seamed, the outside surfaces offthese s ectiQns 10 only intendedV to overcome these diculties but surface of the bladder sections and overtheseam w also to lessen very materially the cost of manuthereof of arubber reinforcing tape. facture of rubber bladders by doing away, among Referring to the drawingsin detail and first to" other things, with the necessity of resorting to Figuresl and 2 thereof, the reference numerals buffing, roughening and similar operations,as in I0 and Il designate ktwo superimposed flatsheets the past, which are not only troublesome, but relaof uncured rubber, justas they come from the cali l5 tievly expensive. ende'r machines. Any suitable means may beem- I nsofar as the structureof the finished article ployed to'prevent thesuperimposed sheets from itself is concerned, that will be readily understood sticking to each other. To` enable blanks or blad'- from a detailed description of my process of mander sections to be cut from these superimposed ufacture of such article. To facilitate the descripsheets any suitable support, such as that indi--` 20 tion of my process VVandt'o enable the same to be cated by the reference numeral: I2, is provided. Y

more Vreadily understood I have, as far as itis pos- The reference numeral I3 designates diagramsible to do so, illustrated the various steps thereof matically a die or other suitable'form of cutter, on the drawings in the order in which these steps equipped with aknife edge I 4, for simultaneously preferably occur in the actual practice of my proc# stamping out and cut-'seaming from the sheets I0 25 ess. Referring to the drawings: and II of sections I5 and I6 (see FigureB) in the Y Figure l illustrates two superimposed sheets of Shape, OI rlStanCef Of a fOOtball bladder. Only uncured rubber from which the bladder sections One die Oillttl' iS illustrated, blllit Will be are stamped out. derstood that anynurnberof thesedies or'cutters Figure 2 illustrates diagrammatically a die for maybe employed to simultaneously Vstamp' jo ut"'a 30 simultaneously stamping out and cut-seaming the number of sections in sequence o r at-y one andthe blanks or sections from the sheets shown'iri Fig- Same time. The knife edge I4 'is preferably so ure 1, it being understood that themechanism for shaped as to squeeze togetherV and hermeticall'y stamping out these sections may be so constructed weldthe edges of the uncured. sections cut; there"- Y as to stamp out any numberthereof at the same by. Furthermore, in order to provide a mqreuni- '35 time. formandmore effective weld, the knife edgel "fr Figure 3 illustratestwo sections ofthe bladder ,Y shouldbe preferably heated to VAa suitable temperf stamped out and cut-seamed from the sheets ature. 4Those skilled' in the artwill knowfwhat shown in Figure 1, and also illustrates vthe two the shape of the cutting edge'should be, as well as .40 sections of the bladder in condition to have their the temperaturethereof to bemaintainedJn order 4 0 outer surfaces cured at this stage. y to secure a proper weld and whichbecomes" the"hv Figure 4 is a View similarrto Figure 3 showing seam of the two bladder sections which go tol make a perforation made in one of the sectionsto reup thebladder. It willthereforebe appreciated ceive the body of the bladder inflation valve. fromthe foregoing ,thatin the operatior'f ofthe .45 Figure 5 illustrates the sections of the bladder die I3, two' sections' are simultaneouslycutfrom 4 5 turned inside Yout through the bladder perforation the sheets I0 andV I I and properly searned. This to expose the uncured sides of the said sections. .operation ,of lthe, die to simultaneously vcut blanks The general shape and configuration which vthe or vsections from sheets IIJ and I'I is called clitbladder Aassumes when turned inside out, due to seaming; lthat after said operation the sec.

.50 the cut-seam which is now Von the inside thereof, tions are said to be cut-seamed.V 50

Ais also shown in this figure. The two sections stamped out and ,c utsearned j stm ably by means of acid fumes. It will be noted, however, that the inner sides of these sections are not accessible to the acid fumes and therefore remain in an uncured state. tions are hermetically sealed to each other there is no danger of the insides thereof being cured; hence they need not be used immediately after they are stamped from the sheets Ii! and II. In fact they maybe stored for a reasonable length of time. The significance of this will appear from what follows.

When the two sheets of. crude rubber are calendered suitable means, such as powder, is employed to prevent them from sticking after which one is superimposed upon the other and sections thereof are simultaneously died out to form a bladder having an air tight compartment between the two sections. When the bladder is subjected to acid fumes for curing the surface on the outside of the sections the acid fumes cannot come in contact with the inner surface of the sections, that isv in contact with the inside of the bladder to cause a glazed surface which has to be buffed off to cause material to adhere to it. In this specification the word uncured refers to this condition on the inner surface of the sections. Where acid fumes are employed for curing in the manner above described the curing only goes to a certain depth,` at least it can be controlled in this respect to as to leave the inner sides of the sections uncured or only semi-cured, whereas in curing rubber by heat treatment the entire body of the rubber is cured.

After the outside of the bladder has been cured in the manner just described, the next step in the process is to provide a perforation I'I in one of the sections thereof, as illustrated in Figure 4, for the purpose of attachinga bladder inflation valve. However, before the bladder inflation valve is secured to said section, the sections of the bladder are turned inside out through the perforation II with the result that the cured surfaces'of each section of the bladder are now on the inside and the uncured surfaces are on the outside. The general shape assumed by the bladder itself after it has been turned inside out, as just described, is illustrated in Figure 5. It assumes this general contour or` configuration because the projecting portion of the cut-seam is now on the inside and causes buckling.

After the bladder has been turned inside out, as described in the preceding paragraph, the next step of the process preferably consists in securing to the perforated section of the bladder the bladder inflation valve, as shown` in Figures 6 and 7. This valve is generally designated in Figure 6 by the reference numeral I8 and comprises a stem I9 (see Figure 7) and an annular rubber flange 20 mounted upon the stern and adapted to serve as a means of permanently securing the valve to the bladder. On the inner end of the stem I9 is the valve proper 2I, and the type illustrated comprises a rubber member having a normally closed opening 22 to prevent the exit of air from the interior of the bladder. Any suitable pumping means may be employed to inflate the bladder at will and in order to deflate the same it is only necessary to insert the proper shape of tool to expand the opening'22, as will be understood. Any form of bladder inflation valve may be employed, and I do not restrict myself to any particular type so long as it is equipped with an annular rubber or similar flange to enable it t`o be secured tothe bladder.

After the body 2I of the bladder valve has been As these secn of impurities.

admirably adapted toroohere to the annular rub-V ber flange 20. vThe side of the flange 2B facing the bladder is buffed and then coated with a suitable cement and when this cemented surface is pressed against the cleaned uncured surface of the bladder, an air-tight, durable weld is effected between said flange and the outer surface of. the bladder. Cement may also be applied, if desired, on the uncured surface of the bladder as well as on the flange.

Insofar as the application of the bladder valve to the bladder itself is concerned, the process is complete at this stage, but it is equally desirable, as heretofore stated, to provide the seam of the bladder with suitable reinforcing means. Therefore the next step, to be described, consists in applying a reinforce 23 to the cut-seam of the bladder. Bearing in mind that the outer surface of the bladder isA uncured, the bladder is now partially inflated, as shown in Figure 8, in order to round out the seam from the shape it assumeswhen the bladder is completely deflated as illustrated in Figure 6. After being partially inflated, the bladder is inserted, or mounted, in work holders 24 and 25 mounted in suitable trunnions 26 and 21 and adapted to be rotated, either manually or mechanically, not only to facilitate the cleaning of the uncured surface adjacent the seam, but also in applying by suitable pressure to said cleaned uncured surface of said sections and over the seam thereof, the uncured side of the rubber reinforcing tape 23. The seam may be rounded out by means other than partially inflating the bladder. f

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have devised a process which comprises cut-seaming from two superimposed sheets of uncured rubber, two sections thereof in the shape of a bladder, curing the outside surfaces of the bladder sections, so cut-seamed, perforating one of said sections and turning said sections inside out through the said perforation to expose the uncured sides of said sections. Thereafter the bladder inflation valve I8 is preferably secured to the bladder and, specifically stated, this comprises the cleaning of a zone of the uncured surface of the perforated section around the perforation therein, inserting into said perforation the body 2| of the bladder valve, which bladder valve is equipped with an annular rubber attaching flange 20 having cement coated on the side thereof facing the bladder, and then securing the cemented side of said rubber flange by suit- This makes a very efthe bladder. In lieu of employing a rubber reinforcing tape one side of which is uncured, I may employ a rubber tape, both sides of which are cured but in that event it will be necessary to buff one side of the tape and to employ a suitable rubber cement or other cohesive means on the buifed side of the tape to effect a proper securing means between said tape and the uncured surface of the sections about the seam of the bladder.

It makes no difference in the practice of my process of applying the tape 23 what type or kind of valve i8 is employed nor how the same is secured to the bladder. Furthermorethe valve I8 need not necessarily be secured to the bladder until after the tape is applied.

From the foregoing it will be seen also that I have devised a bladder for a football and the like which comprises two cut-seamed rubber sections and a reinforce for said seam comprising a rubber tape attached to said sections over said seam by means of cohesion between uncured surfaces of said sections and the uncured or buifed cemented side of a tape facing said sections.

I have also devised a bladder for a football or the like which comprises a valve equipped with an annular flange and through which valve said bladder is adapted to be inflated, said rubber ange being secured, in fact, welded, to said bladder by means of the cohesion between an uncured zone of said bladder around the perforation therein and a suitable cement on the buffed side of said flange facing the bladder.

It will also be seen from the foregoing, and as clearly illustrated in Figure 7, that by attaching the bladder inilation Valve to the bladder in the manner hereinbefore described it is unnecessary to provide any means within the walls of the bladder cooperating with the body of the valve to secure the valve in place. In other words, the valve is not secured in any fashion to the inner wall of the bladder.

After the bladder valve has been secured to the bladder in the manner hereinbefore indicated and before the bladder has been partially inated to tape the seam thereof, it is permitted to dry, and I nd that about an hours time is suitable for this purpose. A little time should also be given to enable the reinforce to dry after its application. Furthermore the exposure to the atmosphere of the uncured outside surface of the bladder will, in a short length of time, cause said surface to become cured to the extent necessary for its use in devices of this kind.

The tape employed to reinforce the cut-seam (sometimes called the edge) of the bladder is preferably cut from the same sheets from which l. A bladder for inflatable balls composed of a' 10 plurality of sections of rubber, cut seams joining said sections with the cut edges directed toward and extending into the interior of said bladder,

said seam presenting a smooth exterior portion recessed from the normal surface of the remainder of kadjacent sections, a ribbon like strip of rubber united to the exterior portion of said bladder over the seam to hold the adjacent portions in the position described whereby air pressure on the interior of the bladder is against said in-Y wardly projecting seam portions and will tend to force said portions together to maintain them in sealing relation. f f

2. A bladder for inflatable balls composed of two sections of rubber,cut seams joining said'two sections with the cut edges, directed'toward and extending into the interior ofsaid bladder, saidV seam presenting a smooth exterior portion recessed from the normal surface of the remainder Vof adjacent sections, a ribbon like strip of rubber united to the exterior portion of said bladder over the seairv to Lhold the adjacent `portions in the position described whereby air pressure on the interior of the bladder is against'said inwardly projecting seam portions and will tend to force said portions together to maintain them in sealing relation. Y

3. A bladder for inflatable balls composed of a plurality of sections of rubbenone of said sections having a hole formed Within its periphery through which the bladder is passed in turning it inside out, said hole receiving an ination valve which is affixed thereto, cut` seams joining said sections with the cut edges directed toward and extending into the interior of said bladder, said seam presenting asmooth exterior portion re cessed from the normal surface of the remainder of adjacent sections, a ribbon like strip of rubber united to the exterior portion of said bladder over the seam .to hold the adjacent portions in the position vdescribed whereby air pressure on the interior of the bladder is against said inwardly projectingV seam portions and will tend to force said portions together to maintain them 

